A month ago, the UCLA football program had no head coach and no idea who its next leader would be.
Now, after a lengthy process of searching and negotiating, the program has found itself in a dream situation: with three coaches deserving of that title all signed up to work on the same staff.
Norm Chow, considered one of the top offensive coaches in football, joined head coach Rick Neuheisel and defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker on the UCLA staff Monday. Chow will coordinate the offense and call the plays.
“We are elated at UCLA to welcome one of the premier signal callers, one of the premier offensive minds in all football,” Neuheisel said. “(Chow) will be the architect of what we hope will be one of the more explosive offenses in college football.”
Neuheisel, Chow and Walker were all candidates for the head coaching position before Neuheisel landed the job at the end of December.
Neuheisel called Walker his “top recruit” when he first received the job and was able to convince him to stay in Westwood, even though Walker had an offer from Washington.
Chow was a tougher sell. He was the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator until last week, when the team fired him. Even after the firing, Chow considered taking time off or trying to find another job in the NFL. But he couldn’t resist Neuheisel, whom he called “a very persuasive fellow.”
“This is an ego-less thing,” Neuheisel said. “The three of us are going to be partners in a start-up company with huge, huge upside.
“The sky’s the limit on where this partnership can go.”
Chow is best known for the tremendous success he had as USC’s offensive coordinator from 2001 to 2004. He developed two Heisman trophy winning quarterbacks there ““ Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart ““ and won a national championship.
The Titans hired Chow in 2005. He spent three years with the team but was fired last week after a first round playoff loss.
While the move to UCLA isn’t necessarily a step up for a Chow, who has been considered for multiple head coaching positions, it allows him to spend more time with his family, who live in Southern California.
“My family is very, very important to me,” Chow said. “We’re looking forward to staying home. … Instead of driving home from work to an empty hotel room, I get to come to my family, people I love and cherish.”
Chow is also familiar with some of the other coaches on the UCLA staff. He’s known Walker for more than two decades, and he also mentioned that he was excited to work with Neuheisel and new offensive line coach Bob Palcic.
“I have never been someone who is looking for power or control,” Chow said. “When you coordinate an offense, you put everyone’s thoughts together. It’s not a power struggle.”
The addition of Chow to the UCLA staff could certainly add to the rivalry with USC. Chow was an integral part of the staff that built USC’s program into what it is today. One of Chow’s sons is currently a student at USC, and another has already graduated.
“USC is a unique place. Obviously Pete (Carroll) has done a terrific job,” Chow said. “It will be the same respect that we carry forth, except on Saturday when we have to go forth and go to war.”
Neuheisel expressed a similar respect for the Bruins’ crosstown rival.
“The goal for us is to get to where they are, to be one of the elite in the country,” Neuheisel said.
Neuheisel was also excited about the boost Chow should provide in the team’s recruiting efforts. Neuheisel has spent most of the past week recruiting on the road. National signing day is Feb. 5.
The terms of Chow’s contract were not released Monday, but Neuheisel said he wants to have Chow on the staff “for a long time.”
Neuheisel and Chow were more focused on Monday’s excitement than the details of the contract. Neuheisel called Monday “a huge day for the Bruins.”
“I always felt like UCLA deserves the best, so I went after the best,” Neuheisel said. “I’m just very fortunate that it worked out.”